To wonder how you'd have dealt with this (rude colleague)

[Poppiesinautumn]

This morning I was helping lift an elderly gentleman in hospital and I was chatting a bit as I did so.

Then we went to put the soiled sheets in the laundry.

Colleague turns to me and said in a really exaggerated tone 'Woah. Chill.' I was [ hmm] 'what?' 'Chill. You're babbling. Shush. Just - chill.'

I didn't say a word, just sort of raised my eyebrow.

I wish I'd said don't be so rude or something now - but the moment passed; what would you have said?

Colleague definitely sounds like a miserable old grump poppies.

It's hard because you need to make sure your patient doesn't become uncomfortable during any exchange. Probably best to keep it lighthearted and say something with a giggle like "oops, sorry, I didn't realise you were the fun police" or something to that effect.

Maybe that will make her realise that actually she's the one who needs to chill, and cheer the fuck up! x

Also, you sound like the sort of person who knows when a patient wants to chat, when its required and when to keep quiet. Maybe your moody colleague doesnt have these skills. Patients appreciate it when you can diffuse a potentially awkward situation and its a real skill to be able to put people at ease.

Only on MN could what you said be considered unprofessional!

this ^

For the record, I think your conversation was entirely appropriate to the situation. The patient led the tone of the conversation, you were kind and friendly and responded in the same vein he initiated to make him feel comfortable.

I have no reason to think you have a high pitched work voice but even if you did your colleague needs to get over it because its not about her.

I'd probably say to her later "I always chat to patients who want to talk, to put them at ease, if you don't like that you should ask to work with someone else. Your comment wasn't appropriate especially not in front of a patient"

poppies you are exactly the sort of person I wish was caring for my dear elderly mum x

The thing is, OP, if you manage to find a suitably clever response for this situation, it won't arise again. Next time it will be somebody saying something else stupid/annoying/patronising, and you won't have a response ready. Unless there's a catch-all response for rude people? Maybe, "I'm sorry, I didn't hear you, could you say that again?" over and over until they get the point.

Someone telling someone else to Chill and shush is rude especially when they weren't actually the person OP was speaking too.
My response to that would be "sorry can you repeat yourself, that sounded really rude to me?"

TooMuchCantBreath thanks for the insight